Apple TV+ may have the reputation of attracting the true A-listers in Hollywood to its original movies, but don’t count out Netflix. The world’s largest streaming service has no trouble attracting big-name talent, as evidenced by the casting news for its new original thriller “Animals.” According to Deadline, Netflix has locked up Ben Affleck to direct and star in the movie.

Key Details:

• Gillian Anderson is also attached to star.
• Plot details for the movie aren’t being revealed just yet.
• Previously, Affleck planned only to direct “Animals.”

Affleck will be in front of the camera as well as behind it for “Animals,” much like he was in “Argo” and “The Town.” Considering “Argo” won an Academy Award for Best Picture, Netflix has to be feeling good about Affleck as both a star and as director of “Animals.”

Gillian Anderson of “The X-Files” and Netflix’s “Sex Education” is also attached to star in the movie. As the movie has not begun filming yet, fans shouldn’t expect to see it on Netflix until 2026 or later.

There are almost no plot details available for “Animals,” and that’s probably the way Netflix wants it. The movie will revolve around a kidnapping, but that’s essentially all the information we have on the storyline of “Animals” to this point.

Originally, Affleck was planning only to direct the film, and it was believed that his longtime collaborator and friend Matt Damon was in line to star. Production delays caused the schedule of both Damon and Affleck to shift, as Damon is now shooting Christopher Nolan’s movie “The Odyssey.” As a result, Affleck is now in the starring role.

Will “Animals” be the next big hit for Netflix? That remains to be seen. It feels like the kind of movie Netflix might try to give a limited theatrical release, considering the star power behind it. If that happens, viewers will know the streamer thinks it’s got gold on its hands, as it reserves theatrical releases only for movies that it thinks will be quite popular with audiences.

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Recently, Netflix has expanded beyond standard movies and TV titles with the addition of video podcasts, and is also exploring a digital store that would offer third-party streamers within the app.

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